Fence-post



(No Model.)

R. R. SPOORE.

FENCE POST.

Patented Peb. 23, 1892.

me norms Farms co., Wurm., wAsHma-rnn, n. c.

UNTTED STATES PATENT Gruen..

FENCE-POST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 469,322,

dated February 23, 1892.

y Application filed February 26,1891. Serial No. 382,901. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RANSOM R. SPOORE, of Clifton Springs,in the county of Ontario and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fence-Posts; and Ido hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in fence-posts, and more particularly to such as are made of metal, the object being to produce a fence-post which shallbe substantial in construction and to which the fence wires or rails may be easily, quickly, and effectually attached.

A furthei object is to construct a metallic :fence-post in such manner that the fence wires or rails maybe securely attached thereto by means of ordinary nails and said wires or rails, as well as their fastening devices, shall be'prevented from lateral or other displacement. Y

A further object is to provide a metallic fence-post with improved means for securing the post in the ground.

A further object is to produce a fence-post which shall be simple in construction, yet sub stant-ial, and which shall be cheap to manufacture and set up for use. g

WVith these objects in view the invention consists in the combination, with a fencepost, of ianges or plates projecting from said post and spaced apart, and nails or pins projecting through said post between the anges or plates and adapted to secure the fence wires or rails rmly to the post.

The invention also consists in certain novel features of construction and combinations and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a view in perspective of my improved fencepost, showing the manner of setting the same up and attaching the wires or rails thereto.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view. Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the blank from which the post is made before it is rolled into proper shape. Fig. 4 is a View which illustrates the device after it has been rolled into proper shape. Figs. 5,6,7,and S are viewsof modifications.

My improved fence-post is made, preferably, of wrought iron or steel and is iirst rolled or otherwise formed in the shape illustrated in Fig. S-a-that is to say, 'in the form of a cross in cross-section, having leaves ormembers l 2 3 4. The blank thus produced is passed between suitable rolls and theleaves or members l 2bent and made to produce two parallel flanges or plates a a, as shown in Figs. l and 4. The partially-completed post is again passed through suitable rolls and the arms or members 3 i bent out and made to align with each other to produce the body of the post, as shown in Figs. l and Ll. The lower end of the body portion c of the post is bent to produce a flange d, whereby the post maybe securely embedded in the ground. To further insure the rigidity of the post in the ground, the lower ends of the plates or members a d are bent laterally at right angles to produce flanges d d', which preferably project. beyond the longitudinal edges of the post.

To prevent lateral displacement of the post, it is desirable to provide supports adapted to rest upon the surface of the ground, and for this purpose the flanges orplates a a are cut at points near their lower ends and bent upwardly to produce iianges or supports c, said flanges or supports being adapted to rest upon the surface of the ground or slightly beneath the same, as shown in Fig. l, and thus prevent lateral or swaying movement of the post. The post at the end of a line of fence (for instance, a corner-post) is preferably provided With an additional brace f to withstand the strain brought to bear on said post by stretching the wires in the construe tion of the fence. This brace f may be a rod or bar having a bifurcated upper end c', adapted to embrace the body port-ion c and be secured thereto bya suitable pin c2. The lower end of the brace f is adapted to be embedded in the ground, as shown in Fig. l, and made to bear against a stone, or, if desired, a stake may be substituted for the stone. The body portion c of the post is provided with a series perforations g between the plates or iianges a a for the reception of a series of wrought nails h, of ordinary form. These nails h are adapted to pass between said plates or anges, extend beyond their IOC) free edges, and neatly fit in the space between said plates or flanges.

In constructing a fence a wire is placed on the protruding end of the nail, as illustrated at the central portion of Fig. l, and then, by means of a claw-hammer or other lsuitable implement, the nail is bent up and made to embrace the wire, as clearly shown in Fig. 2, the wire being thus securely held and made to bear on the free edges of the plates or flanges a a. By this construction it will be readily seen that the wires will be made t0 have a broad substantial bearing against the post, that they will be securely held thereto by the nails lt, and that said nails will be held from lateral or other displacement, being snugly held between the plates or flanges a a..

Vith this class of fences it is customary to secure a wooden rail at the top, and for the purpose of supporting this rail I provide a metallic plate t', aaptded to be secured to the post by means of one of the nails h, or, if desired, said plate may b e secured to the post by means of a rivet or otherwise. The edge of the plate t' is bent at right angles and provided with teeth t', adapted to c nter the wooden rail and securely hold the same.

If desired, the llanges or supports c may be made to project from the post at a point slightly beneath the surface of the ground and an additional brace j provided. This brace will preferably be made inthe form shown most clearly in Fig. 2, having an arm 7c and an arm 7c. The upper end of the arm 7c is provided with a hook 7a2, adapted to pass through a perforation k3 in the post. The arm la of the brace j is adapted to pass through a perforation in the lower portion of the post and rest upon the surface of the ground, the free end of said arm being preferably twisted to lie flat on the ground.

Instead of producing the post as above set forth it may be made as shown in Fig. 5- that is to say, a piece of metal may be first bent into the form of a rectangular box open at top and bottom and one edge, and then have its free edges bent out to produce flanges m.

In this form of the invention the fastening devices will be made to pass between the parallel portions of the post and secure the.

wire to the post, so that it will lie flat against the flanges m, thus having a very broad and substantial bearing. The lower ends of the flanges m will be bent out to produce flanges m', and the lower ends of they body portion may be bent out to produce flanges m2.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 6 one flange or plate ais made integral with the body portion c and the other made separate therefrom, the two being held together by means of bolts n and spaced apart at the proper distance by means of spacing blocks or collars n.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 7 the body portion c and flanges or plates a a are made of separate pieces of metal and riveted or otherwise secured together.

In the form of the invention shown in Fig. 8 the post is composed of two angle-irons secured together by suitable'bolts or rivets and spaced apart by blocks o, said blocks being spaced apart from each other sufficiently to permit the passage of the securing-nails which support the fence-wires.

It is evident that other slight changes might be made in the details of construction of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting its scope. Hence I do not wish tolimit myself to the precise details of construction herein described; but,

Having fully described my invention,.what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

l. The combination, with flanges or plates projecting spaced apart, and nails or pins projecting through said post between the flanges or plates, their sides engaging said flanges and adapted to secure the fence wires or rails firmly to the post, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fence-post, the combination, with a flat portion, flanges slightly separated and extending approximately parallel with each other and at right angles to the flat portion, and nails or pins projecting through said post between the flanges or plates, their sides engaging the inner walls of said flanges and adapted to secure the fence wires or rails firmly to the post, of base-flanges extending laterally from the flat plate and the parallel flanges, substantially as set forth.

3. In a fence-post, the combination, with a body portion bent outwardly at its lower end to 'produce a flange, of parallel plates projecting from vsaid body portion, flanges at the lower ends of said parallel plates, and flanges bent up from said plates and adapted to lie parallel with the rst-mentioned flanges, substantially as set forth.

4. In a fence-post, the combination, with Va body portion having perforations therein, of a brace having one arm hook-shaped at its end to enter one of said perforations in the post and the other `arm being adapted to pass through a perforation in the post and rest upon the ground on opposite sides of the post, said last-mentioned arm being twisted.

5. In a fence-post, the combination, with a body portion, of two parallel plates projecting from one face thereof, a fastening device passed through said body portion and betw'een the parallel plates, cured to the post by said fastening device, said plate being' provided with teeth adapted to enter a `rail and thus secure said rail to the post.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

a fence-post, of therefrom and RANSOM R. SPOORE.

Witnesses:

. R. S. FERGUSON, V. E. HonGEs.

IOO

IIO

and a plate se- 

